Software tools required by the Product manager

"Editor's note" This article reproduced from the @ pylon classmate's personal blog, the product manager's work content as the starting point, for different content recommend suitable software tools.

Product planning, design, implementation and acceptance, etc. are an important step in the birth of a product. Maximizing the business value of a product, articulating a product's architecture, and achieving a good user experience require excellent tools to assist.

工欲善其事, prerequisite

This "device" does not just mean "weapon" or "appliance", you can be understood as a tool or means that can be "used" or "used" by you. Computer is the most essential tool for product managers who are engaged in the Internet. But the computer hardware is usually decided by the company, the choice of space is not much, at most is a little memory and so on, insignificant also, here I just want to talk about the computer installation and use of software, for product managers, what kind of exquisite.

However, some company employees ' computers have strict restrictions on the installation and use of software, which is slightly ^_^ (we only talk about your unlimited freedom to install and use all kinds of software)

The main work of product manager

Since it is "good things", the key is to understand the Product manager related work content, for the work of reasonable and effective use of software, in order to achieve a multiplier effect. To talk about the function of Product manager, this is a new topic, here we first popular summary of the main activities of PM:

participates in the formulation or determination of the company, product or product line strategic planning collect and investigate relevant market needs, user needs, product needs analysis market, industry, competitor development and trends, provide decision reference for product planning, writing related product requirements documents or business plans to participate in product design, including interactive design, Visual design, front-end development, copy design coordination project implementation, including communication, meetings, project management participate in project acceptance, feedback, etc. responsible for product release management participate in or responsible for product operation, promotion and other work

From the summary above, you can see that the product manager's work is quite complex and diverse, especially the Internet industry product managers, basically in addition to day-to-day communication work, most of the work depends on the computer and the software tools. So I would like to introduce you to my computer on the general use of Tool Software (hereafter also consider to introduce relevant web resources and book Resources)

II, Software introduction and download

Since I engaged in product-related work began, is accustomed to hierarchical management of the relevant resources on the computer, so my related software will be based on product manager of the work activities of the classification, mainly divided into the following categories (sorting is not in order, each category recommended no more than 3 software):

Time Management class:

My first thought is the time management type of work, this is what I think the product manager of the first type of powerful tools, if the use of good, can be greatly organized large and small business.

1.taskunifier+toodledo+pocketinformant (iphone)--multi-platform combination

The key to this choice is PC desktop, website, mobile screensaver, mobile software four-way synchronization, this is my choice of this combination of the first factor, basically around the GTD core time management concept of operation.

TaskUnifier is an open source tool and the current version is 2.1.1: Download Address

Toodledo is an online website that supports open API Access, Free edition does not support Subtask (subtasks), Web site is: Visit the website

Pocketinformant (iphone) has two, one is software: Download address

One is the screensaver plugin (plug-in to combine lockinfo use): Download the Address

2.ToDoList

Personal transaction management of flexible tools, if not to consider the synchronization of multiple platforms, single from the PC side, is a pretty good management tool.

ToDoList is open source free tool, the current version is 6.3.9: Download Address

information Collection class:

1.Mybase

Although there are a lot of cloud storage tools, but from the overall information organization and operation, I personally still like the Mybase,microsoft OneNote because of the large and difficult to backup and discarded.

mybase.desktop.6.0.4. Multi-national Language Green Registration version: Download address

2.Evernote

Evernote is my spare, mainly do not like its no tree-level node management, generally used for temporary information storage and mobile terminals such as mobile phone synchronization.

Official Downloads

text Editing class:

1.EmEditor (multi-label text editor)

EmEditor, opening speed, code highlighting and scaling are the main reasons I chose it. (This is too common, suggested that everyone Baidu)

2.notepad2 (faster and richer editors than Notepad)

have been looking for a lot of alternative to Windows Notepad text editor, other software is not speed, is the function, interface is not, and finally selected Notepad2, the only fancy it's "fast"! (Download the address suggested that everyone Baidu)

Mail Processing client class:

1.DreamMail (for mail processing up to 50 daily average)

Dreammail I have been using since 2005, compared to Foxmail or Outlook, DM's biggest advantage is in the processing of a large number of messages, but also easy to backup, can be used as green software, so far, my mail backup volume of up to 10G. For me, it's the preferred one on the mail client.

Official Downloads

Electronic document production and reading Category:

1.office2010 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

From the project report or business plan, such as document writing, Office2010 than WPS, OpenOffice and so on, and circulation on the company, this is also the most convenient tool. From the version, I highly recommend 2010!

2.Acrobat X Pro

The most intuitive way to read electronic documents on a PC is in PDF format, so acrobat is a must-have tool, but I'm not recommending reader Oh, but X Pro. Hey, it's because you can make PDFs, merge PDFs, and so on with X Pro.

3.PDF unlocker (PDF decryption tool)

PDF Unlocker is an interface-friendly software that removes PDF file limits. It unlocks encrypted PDF files for editing, copying, printing, and fetching content. (Download the address suggested that Baidu, click here to Baidu Search)

thinking Map class:

1.XMind

Xmind is a very useful business thinking mapping (MINDMAP) software, its function is similar to MindManager, but I use it for a lot of the reason is that it can quickly change the type of map, and software running process is more convenient than mm, but also by the free version.

Download Address

2.Mindjet MindManager

MM advantage is that its template is rich, can design a very gorgeous mind map, I usually in the official report will only consider using it. I will not provide the download address, you can click here to Baidu Search.

3.PersonalBrain (class of Social Thinking Brain mapping tool)

Personalbrain and our common thinking map of the difference is that its node is no longer just a tree-level structure, but similar to the SNS Multidimensional Way of association show, it is suitable for the design of relational thinking. Chinese version, crack version, you can click here to Baidu Search.

Flowchart Class:

1.Microsoft Visio

Why don't I introduce you? I will provide you with a Visio template package: Download the address;

2.EDraw Max (Photo illustration expert)

Most of the process design, Visio has been able to do, but in addition to Visio, there are alternative tools, here are recommended Edraw Max, the latest version is 6.1. Main features: Beautiful, compact, full-featured. Chinese version, crack version, you can click here to Baidu Search.

UML Modeling class:

In fact, Visio can also draw some conventional UML, as an entry-level modeling tool. The following recommended a professional more powerful modeling tools:

1.Enterprise Architect (excellent UML modeling tool)

Enterprise Architect for product managers, the most suitable for UML modeling, especially high-end system architecture design, in this regard, it is more powerful than Visio, the network has a Chinese version, you can click here to Baidu Search.

prototype Design class:

1.Balsamiq mockups (for quick sketch prototype design)

Balsamiq Mockups is a software engineering rapid prototyping software, can be used as a user interface sketch, its advantage lies in "sketch" prototype, this is in addition to paper and pen is the most convenient tool.

Current version 2.0: Download here

2.AxureRP (for prototype design for complex interactions)

If it's a lightweight design, mockups is enough. But if you want to do a product high-fidelity interactive prototype, AXURERP should be the preferred Product manager or interactive Designer. There are Chinese on the network, there are crack, click here to Baidu Search.

3.UIDesigner (Tencent launched the prototype design tool)

The current version is still constantly updated and perfected, can be used as tasting people, I believe that the follow-up function will be more and more perfect, after all, this is the product of the Chinese people, I believe it will be more suitable for the domestic Internet work situation.

Official Downloads

Browser Plug-in class:

Browser What to install, I believe you do not need special introduction, WIN system under the IE6, 7, 8, 9;chrome, FireFox, TT, TheWorld, Maxthon, Sogou Browser, 360 security browser, etc., as long as your users will often use the browser, You need to try to understand and experience. To feel empathy, you need to use the same product as your users. Here is a description of the product manager's daily work more practical browser plug-ins, because the browser too many classes, I only choose FF and chrome under the commonly used recommendations.

1.IE Tab (use IE engine under FF)

The key is to use the IE engine under the FF to access the Web site, compatible with IE7, 8, 9, more appropriate to experience version compatibility.

Firefox version: Download

Chrome version: Download

2.AutoPager (Automatically load the next page and merge to the current page, strongly recommended!) )

Especially in the use of search engines, access to the forum, such as more of the situation, a very practical plug-in, you can dispense with a lot of meaningless operation.

Firefox version: Download

Chrome version: Download

3.firebug+yslow (front-end development tools)

Firebug mainly for CSS, HTML and JavaScript related editing, debugging and monitoring, very well-known plug-ins, combined with the YSlow plug-in combination is very powerful, essential products.

Firefox version: Firebug download; YSlow download

Chrome version: Download

4.LastPass (Automatic filling tool)

The website is much, remember the account and password is one of the most troublesome thing, so have this lastpass.

Firefox version: Download

Chrome version: Download

5. Mouse Gesture Plugin

Domestic browsers very early support the mouse gesture, this era, do not use gestures that too inefficient.

Firefox firegestures: Download

Chrome Mousestoke: Download

6. Wall Plug

What is a wall? Baidu first. As a product manager, see the foreign website is necessary, the wall tool is also necessary, the browser plug-in is just a forwarding process, the machine will also be installed on the wall tools, the two can be normal double wall.

Firefox to install Autoproxy Bar, because it is free: download

Install proxy switchyplus in chrome, download

System Enhancements Class:

1.QTTabBar (let Windows Explorer also label more)

In fact, the Third-party Explorer support for multiple tags, Windows does not support, Qttabbar is a great enhancement plug-ins. Everyone Baidu ha: point here

2.OfficeTab (make Microsoft Office software more labeled, highly recommended!) ）

Officetab is a plug-in that is applied to Microsoft Office, and contains Exceltab, Wordtab, and powerpointtab three components that work in a multiple-label mode that supports Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, respectively. Its main role is to add a multiple-label toolbar similar to IE and Firefox for Microsoft Office Office software Word, Excel, and Powerpoint. Make it easy for users to switch between different documents (workbooks or presentations). Because the version of the update faster, we direct Baidu search Download the latest version bar: click here

Conclusion

About the daily work of product managers in the application of various types of software, there are many, above just to select a number of key points, follow-up to find better tools, and then share to everyone. Although my computer is loaded far beyond the above, but it is mentioned above, the tool, when you use the extreme, a tool can solve your 90% problem, the other can only be alternative, so not the more the better.

Original Link: Product Manager tool software